The Perils of Peanut M&Ms

I think the title of the post says it all…but you’ll see the chocolate in a bit :).

This morning, I started out with one of my faves which I haven’t had in awhile…a BREAKFAST COOKIE! Using Fitnessista’s genius recipe, I concocted a strawberry coconut cookie using berry acai hemp protein powder. Strawberry + coconut = heaven. With a cuppa joe & skim milk (not pictured)…

Unfortunately, this didn’t hold me over as long as I hope so I was just forced to enjoy this new, delicious Larabar a little earlier than usual…Peanut Butter Cookie!

I don’t know how Ms. Lara does it, but this tasted soooo much like a peanut butter cookie! Each flavor I try tastes so much like what it is supposed to be but still uses under 6 ingredients and is soy-free, gluten-free, raw, unprocessed, etc. etc. etc. If you haven’t tried these yet, you must! They are a bit expensive but just think of it as a healthy treat!

Lunch was a semi-repeat from last night…Italian-style chickpea burger with cherry tomatoes and a cocktail of my TJ’s raw chocolate chip cookies (made with vegetable extracts!) and the last of my Black Mission Figs.

After lunch, I took a nice 30 minute walk in the GORGEOUS weather. It was sunny and warm…finally!

For some reason, NOTHING was filling me up today. There are certain times of the month where this just happens and ya gotta give in. My stomach started grumbling about 2 1/2 hours after lunch, so I kind of snacked all through out the afternoon. First up? The last of my TJ’s Raisin Pecan bread…

An hour later it was a perfectly juicy, sweet and delicious mango…

Then another hour later, it was two handfuls of these babies…

Peanut M&Ms are seriously one of my faves! Once I start, I often just can’t stop, which I why I try to stay away from them and enjoy in moderation. Today I knew they would hit the spot, so I dug in and voila! they did! These suckers are easy to down so I kept it to 2 handfuls and planned on a healthy, nutritious dinner.

When I got home, I headed off for a 3 mile run. I kept the pace slow (about 10:00/mile) and took her easy. My legs were still feeling a bit fatigued from Saturday.

I don’t know if I mentioned this, but I actually got back last year from teaching English abroad in Thailand. In other words, I had a hankering for some Thai! I used the yellow Thai curry sauce I got from Trader Joe’s, I sauteed sweet potato, onion and tomato in canola oil and garlic. Then I added the sauce and served it over the Lentil Biryani Rice pack (also from TJ’s), topped with cilantro and coconut. Oooohhh…it was just spicy enough and HIT THE SPOT!

Now I am sipping tea, finishing watching some good trash TV – Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelorette. This gal is in definitely need of a rest, so I am kickin’ back tonight and enjoying! Hope you do the same!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure TV show to watch?

P.S. I know there was no edition of Holly Investigates… today, but no worries, it’s on its way!

***Update: Since I was up kinda late (for me at least, haha!), I had a spoonful of almond butter right out of the jar (1-1.5 tbsp.), just like I did when I was a kid!